ParaGard questions

I have tried one form of birth control, the Depo shot. I was moody, gained about 10lbs in two months, my acne got out of control, my hair fell out…it was just a mess. I spotted for three months straight. After not renewing the shot I didn’t get my period for over two months. It took me about a year to get regular again. I am very sensitive to hormones (a little stress will throw my period off a week or make it skip all together) so I don’t have interest in pill or the patch. Right now my period is very regular and lasts maybe 5 days with mild cramping for the first day and a half. DH and I currently use condoms which isn’t an issue for either of us. We would just like to be EXTRA careful because neither of us wants kids.

I was looking into the ParaGard and was wondering if you’d had experience with it? The reason I was looking into it was because my mother (like me) is sensitive to hormones and it worked well for her. I read that insertion hurts but that doesn’t scare me. A little pain would be worth the ease of mind that no little swimmers could survive 😉 So what has your experience been with it? Weight gain, increased acne, hair loss, loss of sex drive…?

I have had the ParaGard for 7 years and it is the BEST decision I ever made! Lots of girls I know try the Mirena because you don’t have periods with it but there are so many side effects and risk factors with that one and it only lasts 5 years. Paraguard is a lot safer because it does not have hormones. It does hurt when they put it in but it’s nothing terrible. Just about when it gets to feel unbearable, it’s over. I was sore for about 4 days but it was tolerable with ibuprofen. I had heavier periods for about 3 months but then I was back to my regular pattern. I love that I get a period every month just like normal. You can feel the strings with your fingers but FI can never feel them when we are getting busy. I’ve never had to worry, never had a scare, don’t have to use alternative methods while taking antibiotics. It is truely the best birth control ever. It gives the guys peace of mind too because they know you can’t just decide you want a baby and stop taking your pill. Lol. I’ve had several of the guys I work with convince their ladies to get one. Lol. I hope this helps! Let me know if you need any more info.

@vpaine: Thank you so much for your reply! It sounds like you’ve had great luck with it! Did you have yours inserted at your doctors or at Planned Parenthood? Did you have it inserted during your period? I read in a few posts that’s when it’s preferred to have it placed. Have you had any side effects like low sex drive or anything? I’m assuming since there are no hormones that shouldn’t be an issue? Thank you again for your help!

I’m glad you asked bc I’ve been debating this same question myself. Not sure where you live but I’m in the US , my doctor gold me to just order a paraguard online from a Canadian pharmacy (said it will be like 20$ ) but more costly in the states. I have great insurance but my doctor says they have a hard time getting para guard approved ( if against online ordering ) but they were able to get Mirena approved. I actually have it in the box bc I was really torn over risking the nasty side effects of weight gain acne and other those lovely things.

OP, i was holding off on paraguard because I was worried about getting terrible, heavy periods (mine are also really short.) other than that I’ve read it’s very safe and no side effects . Hope some other bees can give firsthand experience .

i’ve been trying to figure out what i want to do, birth control wise, and i’ve read that paraguard hurts like hell. mirena does as well. i’ve been on the pill for years, but went off of it in june cause my prescription ended and i couldn’t get in to see my doctor until mid-august.

@vpaine: I’m glad youve had such an awesome experience and I totally recommenf Paraguard, but some of you r info is incorrect. Anti-biotics will not decrease the effectiveness of hormonal bc unless taken long term. Paragurad still has risks such and expulsion and perforation as well as the Mirena. Many times partners can feel the strings. They tend to soften and curl around the cervix after awhile though. Its important to know that Paraguard may make your period heavier longer and crampier.

This methois awesome hormone free and long term but definitely do your research first. Many offices will not remove it until several years later unless they deem the reason for wanted removal is adequate.

@MrsOrange: I live in Iowa but I never thought I’d have to order it online. Did your doctor say why it was hard to get a prescription? I wouldn’t be opposed to ordering it online if that was the only option.

I’ve also heard the horror stories of Mirena and since I had such a terrible experience with the Depo shot I am very anti hormones.

@colorofmyheart: For sure not within the next seven or eight years. Hopefully at that point we’ll have a more solid decision as far as yes or no.

I’m going to the doctor on Monday for this exact topic! I am debating between Mirena and Pargard. I hate the idea of using Mirena because it has hormones, but I hear its very little and an even smaller amount actually gets into your blood stream. I’m also worried about the heavier/longer/crampier periods.. mine are already very painful (and im on a pill thats supposed to help that) but they are relatively light and short, something I dont really want to give up. I’ll update on Monday with info my doctors gives me on both! I was also considering Implanon, I thought it was the best option at first, but after hearing story after story of constant spotting I opted not to take the chance. 🙂

@Cummins59: sorry im not sure how to link this from my phone. But anyway, I went to Planned Parenthood and had no problems. I did went for my consult and then came back on the first day of my period for the insertion. I have never had any children and I have never been pregnant. IUDs got a bad wrap back in the day because they were poorly made and many women had problems with perforation and infections. They ussd to only place them in women who had previously had children. They are much safer now. There are more hormanal side effects with the Mirena. I personally know one girl who got a blood clot with it, and another who developed polycystic ovaries after using Mirina. The risk of perforation very low but it can happen. Although my doctor told me if it perforated, they just have to remove it and you would heal, although removal would probably be an outpatient surgical procedure. If it is expulsed, then obviously it just won’t work and you would be evaluated to see if you were a candidate for reinsertion. I did not mean to make it seen like it was risk free, but comparatively, I think it os highly effective and much safer than other options.

Oh and other than the heavier periods for the first few months and the brief recovery period after insertion, I have had no side effects at all. I don’t even know it’s there. I occasionally have to remind myself it’s due to come out in 2016 because I’ve had it so long.

Pros: no hormones, no remembering a daily pill or getting shots, no artificial hormones, no needing to stop sexy time to get a condom, it’s good for 10 years.

Cons: insertion hurt like a bitch (especially if you haven’t had kids – take 4 ibuprofen beforehand!), it did make my periods heavier and cramps worse (especially the first few months, but also just in general – I was on BC for 10 years before that which made them very light / not crampy).